The best TV show where the characters were, at one point, in high school?

Was thinking about this the other day after watching Seasons 1 and 2 of Veronica Mars, which is a really, really good show, maybe the best detective show ever done on television. It manages to be about high school, but also about much larger issues, putting it on par I think with some of the best high school shows -- and arguably some of the best show in any genre -- of this era.

That said, I'm not sure anything can knock off Buffy, even the brilliant Freaks and Geeks (especially since it lasted one season), although I'm willing to listen to any argument that includes Friday Night Lights. (With the caveat that I have not yet seen Season 5.) In fact, just typing this, I may have to think long and hard about whether FNL would be my pick ahead of Buffy. It just might, with apologies to the Scooby Gang. Clear eyes, full hearts, etc.

You may vote for two choices in the poll. I will be back later to argue the individual merits of some of the shows.

Discuss, or make your case below.

 

Wonder Years is a valid choice. I will edit the poll to reflect it.

 

So sad that two of the best choices, Freaks and Geeks and My So Called Life both didn't even get a second season.

 

Head of the Class should be on there as well.

 

Welcome Back Kotter should be on there as well.

 

Waiting for Mikey to return and nominate Boy Meets World.

 

I think it's safe to say the cast and crew from Freaks and Geeks have done pretty well for themselves.

 

No Happy Days?

 

Good call...

 

Happy Days, Welcome Back Kotter and Head of the Class are all enjoyable shows -- and in the case of Happy Days, a trailblazer -- but the writing does not measure up to the shows on the list. 90210 had bad writing, but it reinvented the genre.

I know Smallville and One Tree Hill are shows set in high school but I've never seen either so if you want them on the list, you need to make the case for their inclusion.

 

For me, "Freaks and Geeks" is as good as it gets.

 

Same is true of Boy Meets World.